Rail-joint.



No. 7ll,644. Patented Oct. 2|, 1902. I y N. P. PARK. v

R A I L J 0 I N T.

(Appliation filed May 14. 1902.1

(Np Model.)

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UNiTED STATES PATENT NEY PIOKETT-PARK, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- FIFTHS TO JAMES MOMILLAN, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,644, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed May 14, 1902. Serial No. 107,350. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that L'NEY PICKETT PARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints;and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of Iheinvention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention appertains to the type of rail-joints in which the abutting ends of adjacent rail-sections have interlocking projeclions, so as to prevent relative vertical and lateral play and provide, in effect, a continuous rail.

The purpose of this invention is to brace and strengthen the joint between adjacent rails, so as to Withstand vertical and lateral stress and preclude the possibility of jolt to cars passing thereover, provision being had to allow for the removal and the substitution of a rail-section when required.

The invention consists of reinforced end portions of the rail-sections, a mortise and tenon constitutingthe joint,and lateral extensions at the sides of the tenon midway of its upper and lower ends to enter corresponding.

rail ends.

The invention also further consists of the novel features and details of construction,

which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings hereto attached and forming a part of thespecilication, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail-joint embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side view, the dotted lines showing the joint broken to admit of a rail either being removed or placed in position. Fig. 3 is an end View of the tenon end of the rail. Fig. 4 is an end view of the end tise. its ends with lateral extensions, each extenof the rail h'aving the mortise. Fig. 5 is av side view of the joint having the component parts separated and disposed in agroup.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the-following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. 7 The rail-joint comprises the ends 1 and 2 of adjacent rail-sections,the terminal portions of the rail ends 1 and 2 being thickened to provide the necessary reinforcement for the component interlocking parts of the joint. Notches 3 are provided inthe foot or base portion of each rail end a short distance from the joint and are adapted to receive lugs 4, pendent from the fish-plate 5, which is bolted to a side of the rail ends to secure'the .jointagainst casual parting.

, The rail end 1 is provided with a vertical mortise 6, and the cheek-pieces have openin gs or depressions 7 intermediate of the ends of the mortise- The outer portion of each opening or depression 7 flares and the inner portion is square. The portion of the mortise above the openings or depressions 7 is upwardly converged and the portion below said openings or depressions is downwardly diverged at a slightly-greater angle than the inclination of the upper portion of said mortise.

The end 2 of the rail having the tenon is the counterpart of the end 1 having the mor- The tenon is providedintermediate of sion having its outer portion straight or square, as shown at 8, and its inner portion of a great portion of the strain which would otherwise be sustained thereby. The tapering portions 9 sustain vertical stress, while at the same time enabling the joint to be broken upward, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, when it is required either to place a rail-section in position or to remove a rail-section for any required purpose.

The fish-plate 5 is placed against a side of the joint and is secured to the rail ends by bolts 12, passing through corresponding openings in the fish-plate and rail ends. Lugs 4 are pendent from the lower edge of the fishplate to enter the notches 3 in the foot or base portion of the rail ends. The fish-plate secures the joint against casual parting or separation, and the provision of the lugs 4 enables the successful use of a single bolt for securing the fish-plate to each rail end.

The base portion of each rail end is cut away for a short distance from the extremity, as indicated at 13, to form a seat for the reception of the bed-plate 14, which underlaps the joint and is secured to a tie by a spike 15, driven into the tie at each end of the bedplate. The bed-plate 1-1 corresponds in length to the width of the base or foot of the rail and is sufliciently thick to provide a substantial foot or support for the joint.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a rail-joint, a rail end having a mortise and having outwardly-diverged openings or depressions in the cheek'pieces bordering upon said mortise and the companion rail end having a tenon to enter the mortise and having lateral extensions at-the sides of the tenon of a shape to snugly fit the diverged openings or depressions, substantially as specified.

2. In a rail-joint, a rail end having a mortise and having openings or depressions in the cheek-pieces, the outer ends of the openings being diverged and the inner ends straight or square, and a companion rail end having a tenon, and lateral extensions 'at the sides of the tenon, said lateral extensions having their outer ends made straight or square and their inner ends tapering to snugly fit the openings or depressions in the cheek-pieces of the firstmentioned rail end, substantially as set forth. 3. In a rail-joint, a rail end having a mortise and openings or depressions in the cheekpieces intermediate of the extremities of the mortise, the upper and lower parts of the mortise being upwardly converged at dilierent angles, and the companion rail end having a tenon and lateral extensions at the sides of the tenon to snugly fit the openings or depressions in the cheek-pieces of the first-mentioned rail end, the upper and lower parts of the tenon being upwardly converged at different angles to snugly fit the corresponding parts of the mortise, su bstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NEY PIOKETT PARK.

Witnesses:

GULLEY ZIRKLE, J. A. OHAMBLESS. 

